McKillip stands by his switch

Posted: Monday, April 18, 2011

By BLAKE AUED

After finishing his first legislative session as a Republican, Athens state Rep. Doug McKillip said he made the right decision by switching parties.

McKillip dropped a bombshell on Athens residents and political junkies across the state by announcing in December that he'd gone over to the other side, fresh off his election as the No. 2 Democrat in the House.

After complaining last year that he couldn't get anything passed as a member of the minority party, McKillip was able to usher through two significant pieces of legislation this year. One, House Bill 101, modernizes safety regulations for bicycles. The other, which was appended to a different bill, expands funding for an expiring tax credit for solar panels and other forms of alternative energy to $5 million and renews it until 2014.

"We got it doubled, and we got it extended, which is going to produce dozens and dozens, if not hundreds, of new jobs," he said.

McKillip was one of Democrat Roy Barnes' strongest supporters in the 2010 election, but he credited Gov. Nathan Deal with helping him pass the energy tax credit.

McKillip's performance this year did little to quell the ire of his former supporters.

In particular, Clarke County Democratic Committee Chairman Bill Overend criticized his votes in favor of an illegal immigration crackdown and cuts to the HOPE Scholarship program, which he said would hurt the University of Georgia, local poultry plants and the Athens economy.

"All he's done is vote against the interests of Athens-Clarke County, as far as I can tell," Overend said.

McKillip defended his HOPE vote by saying that it will preserve the program for future generations and pointing to provisions that allow low-income HOPE recipients to also receive federal Pell grants, and noting that it sets aside $20 million for low-interest loans to college students.

"The fact is, we put a lot of stuff in there for folks who need help," he said.

Illegal immigrants are costing Georgia taxpayers more than $1 billion a year to pay for schooling and medical care, he said.

"At the end of the day, that bill discourages an illegal activity the same way a speeding ticket does," he said.

McKillip also maintained his strong record on environmental protection, voting against bills to allow yard clippings to be buried in landfills and old logs to be dredged up from riverbeds, both opposed by environmentalists. The landfill bill passed with majority Republican support, while the deadwood bill was narrowly defeated.

In spite of McKillip's past liberal record, House Speaker David Ralston welcomed him with open arms when he joined the Republican caucus. Rep. Hank Huckaby, R-Watkinsville, said he worked closely with McKillip throughout the session.

"He had a good session, and he was effective," Huckaby said.

But the jury is still out among rank-and-file Republicans, said Matt Brewster, chairman of the Athens GOP. McKillip attended the group's Christmas party and is scheduled to speak to party members May 9, Brewster said.

"It came as a surprise to everyone," he said. "We're looking forward to hearing more from him."

Some political observers have speculated that a Republican might challenge McKillip from the right in next year's primary. He surely will have a Democratic challenger, though party leaders are waiting to see how his central Athens district will be redrawn this summer before recruiting a candidate.

"Look, we're going to take care of Doug McKillip," Overend said. "He's not going to be our representative in a year and a half."